Alpha Town Hall Meeting: Update on the Flint Water Crisis

Alpha January Town Hall

Alpha Town Hall Meeting: Update on the Flint Water Crisis

TOWN HALL DESCRIPTIONAs a crisis hits a predominantly poor, black community of Flint, Mich., you will hear from brothers on the ground, how Alpha Phi Alpha has been involved since this crisis unfolded, and what will be the next steps. The brothers of Epsilon Upsilon Lambda, Theta Tau, and our brothers in the state of Michigan extend a sincere thank you in an effort to support and provide assistance to the citizens of Flint.

WHAT IS ALPHA PHI ALPHA DOING?The leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha has been in frequent contact with the members of Epsilon Upsilon Lambda and Theta Tau chapters located in Flint, MI. The following actions are being taken by the chapters and brothers close to this crisis:

To address immediate volunteer needs (water and filter distribution, etc.), Brother Adrian Walker, manager of corporate social responsibility for the Diplomat Pharmacy, is working with the local Red Cross as part of his daily responsibility and will leverage that role to advise us of additional support initiatives.

Brother Brian Larkin, director of planning and development for the City of Flint, serves as our local committee chairman of the My Brother's Keeper program. The local committee have been contacting our senior brothers and Alpha widows to ensure they are receiving appropriate care and services.

Brother Isaiah Oliver is vice president of community impact at The Community Foundation of Greater Flint, which administers the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. Recognizing this crisis as a long-term issue, we have to continue to raise funds to benefit the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. This fund supports charitable organizations that provide aid to children and families with interventions that impact positive health outcomes including, but not limited to, immediate response, optimal child health and development, early childhood education, continuous access to a pediatric medical home, access to infant and child behavioral health services, nutrition education and healthy food access, safe, and healthy home environments, and integrated social services and research.

WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE SHORT-TERM

We ask and encourage you, Brother *|LNAME|*, to visit www.flintkids.org and click the "Donate Now" button in the upper right corner of the page to make a contribution. Upon making your donation, please indicate “Alpha Phi Alpha” in the area directly below your email address. This will help all us to report on the status of donations directly provided by Alpha Phi Alpha.

For extra-large donations, such as multiple semi-trucks, delivery arrangements can be made by emailing Janet Hunter at hunterj8@michigan.gov

Preparations are in progress on how volunteers can properly engage various areas to support the citizens of Flint, MI. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha within the Michigan area will be engaged in this activity.